Bridges Newsletter Winter/Spring 2010 : Page 1
Winter/Spring 2010 Letter from the President/CEO Now is an important time for our voices to be heard in Hartford. crossings In the coming weeks, let your voices be heard as an advocate for the thousands of people helped by Bridges. Attend the scheduled presentations and public hearings detailed below. Dear Friends, Recent state budget cuts have impacted many organizations including Bridges. While we work even harder to weather the storm, additional cuts proposed by our Governor will significantly affect our ability to fully provide important services to our families, friends and neighbors in need. Additional cuts in our funding will negatively impact those vulnerable populations that we serve, and consequently cost more in the long run. A recent cut in a DCF program for families has resulted in the elimination of two positions, reducing our services to children and families. BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE The Appropriations Committee has issued a draft schedule for state agency budget presentations and evening public hearings. The public is invited to attend the daytime presentations. We need a major turnout, including parents, family members and self advocates. Located at the Legislative Office Building. Thursday, February 11 Human Services – DCF and DSS Morning - Presentation Evening - Public Hearing Thursday, February 18 Health and Hospitals – DMHAS, DDS, DPH Morning - Presentation Evening - Public Hearing Click here for schedule updates Scroll down for the schedule information Please attend these important presentations. Communicate to your elected officials that now is not the time for a reduction in state funding to agencies that provide these critical services. In our current economic environment, the need for our services is increasing everyday. Inadequate funding support ultimately costs us more in both financial and human terms, hurting real people in our communities. Did you know that the average annual cost for a bed in a state facility is $500,000? One year of outpatient service provided by Bridges averages under $10,000. That means 50 to 60 adults or children could be helped by Bridges for the cost of one bed! Bridges' continuing efforts to promote efficiencies in the delivery of healthcare services through our collaboration with CommuniCare Inc. (CCI) has resulted in the awarding of two important grants. Governor The first grant supports the integration of primary care services into mental health facilities, and the second aids our efforts to effectively address the issue of tobacco use by individuals with serious mental illness. Here, advocacy and resources are shared between Bridges, Birmingham Group Health Services, and Harbor Health Services. As a result of this collaboration, we are better able to service an area with a population of over 320,000 people. Please take this opportunity to make a difference and get this point across to our Governor and your State Legislators. If you truly want to reduce healthcare costs and help your fellow citizens, then insist that efficient agencies like Bridges and our CommuniCare partners are adequately funded. We have provided you with contact information below. Thank you, Barry Kasdan Please contact your elected officials on behalf of Bridges State Representatives Governor M. Jodi Rell Executive Office of the Governor State Capitol 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106 Governor.Rell@ct.gov 800-406-1527 State Senators Deputy President Pro Tempore Toni N. Harp District 10 New Haven and West Haven harp@senatedems.ct.gov 800-842-1420 Assistant Majority Leader Gayle Slossberg District 14 Milford, Orange and West Haven slossberg@senatedems.ct.gov 800-842-1420 Stephen D. Dargan District 115 West Haven stephen.dargan@cga.ct.gov 800-842-8267 Louis P. Esposito District 116 West Haven lou.esposito@cga.ct.gov 800-842-8267 Assistant Majority Leader Paul Davis District 117 Milford, Orange and West Haven paul.davis@cga.ct.gov 800-842-8267 Barbara L. Lambert District 118 Milford barbara.lambert@cga.ct.gov 800-842-8267 Richard Roy District 119 Milford richard.roy@cga.ct.gov 800-842-8267 Deputy Republican Leader Themis Klarides District 114 Derby, Orange and Woodbridge Themis.klarides@housegop.state.ct.us 800-842-1423 Our 2009 Annual Report and information about our programs can be viewed online at: www.bridgesmilford.org/publications
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